Wall paneling structure for bathing receptacles

ABSTRACT

A DECORATIVE PANELING STRUCTURE FOR COVERING THE WALLS AROUND BATHING RECEPTACLES, SUCH AS BATHTUBS AND SHOWER STALLS. THE STRUCTURE COMPRISES A DECORATIVE PANEL HAVING ITS REAR SURFACE SECURED TO A BATHROOM WALL AND ITS BOTTOM EDGE SECURED TO ONE OF THE UPPER SIDE EDGES OF THE BATHTUB OR SHOWER STALL BY A FLEXIBLE PLASTIC FITTING. THE FITTING PROVIDES A WATER-TIGHT CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DECORATIVE PANEL AND THE BATHTUB, AND IS MADE OF A SPRINGY PLASTIC MATERIAL HAVING A MEMORY. THE FITTING COMPRISES A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE WALLS HAVING THEIR CENTER PORTIONS CONNECTED BY AN INTEGRAL WEB. THE SIDE WALLS OF THE FITTING HAVE UPPER PORTIONS WHICH COOPERATE WITH THE INTEGRAL CONNECTING WEB TO FORM A GENERALLY U-SHAPED CHANNEL FOR SNUGLY RECEIVING THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE DECORATIVE PANEL, AND DEFORMABLE LOWER PORTIONS WHICH ARE TURNED INWARDLY FOR SNUGLY RECEIVING AN UPWARDLY PROTRUDING, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING BEAD ALONG THE UPPER SIDE EDGE OF THE BATHTUB. A FLEXIBLE PLASTIC COVERING STRIP IS PROVIDED ACROSS THE TOP EDGE OF THE DECORATIVE PANEL AND BEARS AGAINST THE WALL TO WHICH THE PANEL IS SECURED TO FORM A MOISTUREPROOF SEAL BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE PANEL AND THE WALL.

Sept. 21, 1971 R. H. MolR WALL PANELING STRUCTURE FOR BATHING RECEPTACLES Filed May 1, 1969 United States Patent ,l

3,606,712 WALL PANELING STRUCTURE FOR BATHING RECEPTACLES Richard H. Muir, Sau Diego County, Calif., assiguor to Hemisphere Industries, Incorporated, Las Vegas, Nev

Filed May 1, 1969, Ser. No. 820,967

Int. Cl. A47k 3/16 U.S. Cl. 52-35 1 Claim ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A decorative paneling structure for covering the walls around bathing receptacles, such as bathtubs and shower stalls. The structure comprises a decorative panel having its rear surface secured to a bathroom wall and its bottom edge secured to one of the upper side edges of the bathtub or shower stall by a flexible plastic fitting. The tting provides a water-tight connection between the decorative panel and the bathtub, and is made of a springy plastic material having a memory. The tting compri-ses a pair of substantially parallel side walls having their center portions connected by an integral web. The side walls of the fitting have upper portions which cooperate with the integral connecting web to form a generally U-shaped channel for snugly receiving the bottom edge of the decorative panel, and deformable lower portions which are turned inwardly for snugly receiving an upwardly protruding, longitudinally extending bead along the upper side edge of the bathtub. A flexible plastic covering strip is provided across the top edge of the decorative panel and bears against the wall to which the panel is secured to form a moistureproof seal between the top of the panel and the wall.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a decorative paneling structure for the walls around bathing receptacles (e.g., bathtubs and shower stalls), including fitting means for connecting the decorative panels to the bathing receptacle structure so as to form a moisture-proof seal therebetween without the need for grouting, caulking, or the like. The decorative paneling is designed to present a pleasing appearance while protecting the walls against damage from moisture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a bathroom alcove having a bathtub and decorative paneling installed therein according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2, is a sectional side elevation view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. -1 and showing the structural interrelationship of one of the bathroom walls, the decorative panel thereon and the upper edge of the bathtub to which the panel is attached; and

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional perspective view of the fitting which connects the lower edge of the decorative panel to the upper side edge of the bathtub.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a bathtub 10 installed in an alcove 12 in a bathroom with three decorative panels 14, 16, 18 secured to the bathroom walls over the front, side and rear edges of the bathtub 10, respectively, all according to the teachings of the present invention.

As best shown in FIG. 2, each of the decorative panels 14, 16, 18 comprises a plywood sheet 20 (e.g., 3A of an inch thick) coated on its front or outwardly facing surface with a decorative plastic coating 22 (e.g., 10-12 mills thick). The plastic coating 22 may be applied by spraying,

or any other suitable technique.

The panel 16 is mounted on the bathroom wall 24 (FIG. 2) by means of an epoxy resin glue 26 applied between the bathroom wall and the rear panel face. Alter'- natively, the panel may be nailed, screwed, bolted or otherwise suitably mounted on the wall 24, depending upon whether the wall is concrete, wallboard, plaster, etc.

The bathtub 10 may be constructed of fiberglass, as shown in the drawing, or any other suitable material (e.g., cast iron). A nailer strip 26 is provided along the front, inside and rear edges of the tub for nailing or otherwise securing the tub to the walls of the alcove 12.

The bottom edge 28 of the panel 16 is connected to the upper side surface 30 of the bathtub 10` by means of a flexible plastic fitting 32 cooperating with an upwardly protruding, longitudinally extending bead 34 formed in the upper side surface of the tub. The fitting 32 is preferably a springy plastic material having memory (c g., a vinyl plastic) and includes a pair of substantially parallel side walls 36, 36 integrally connected -by a web 38. The connecting web 38 and the upper portions 40, 40` of the side walls 36, 36 cooperate to form a generally U-shaped channel for snugly receiving the bottom edge 28 of the panel 16. The lower portions 42, 42 of the side walls 36, 36 are turned inwardly toward one another and snugly receive the bead on the upper side surface of the tub. As shown in FIG. 3, the lower portions 42, `42 of the side walls 36, 36 of the fitting 32 normally terminate in edges directly adjacent one another. When the fitting is installed to connect the lower edge 28 of the panel 16 to the bead 34 on the bathtub, the lower edges of the fitting are sprung upwardly by the bead to form a tight, moisture-proof joint. This tight joint obviates the need for grouting which is normally employed at the juncture of the bathtub and the bathroom wall. The elimination of the necessity for such grouting and the disadvantages of the grouting (i.e., cost, relatively short life, chipping, etc.) are among the advantages realized through use of the present invention.

Covering the top edge 46 of the decorative panel 16 is a ilexible plastic strip 48. The strip 48 is preferably constructed of a springy plastic material having memory (e.g., vinyl plastic) and extends laterally across the top edge of the panel. The forward edge of the strip is turned downwardly to form a skirt `50 which is secured to the upper front face of the panel 16. The rear edge of the strip extends over the rear surface of the panel 16 and terminates in a flexible lip 52 which is deformed upwardly and bears against the bathroom wall 24 when the panel is secured to the wall. This lip 24 forms a water-tight juncture between the upper panel edge and the bathroom wall.

What is claimed is:

1. In a bathroom comprising a substantially vertical wall having one side of a bathing receptacle and a decorative panel secured thereto, said bathing receptacle being secured to the lower portion of the wall, and said decorative panel having a lower edge spaced above said one edge of said bathing receptacle, an improved structure providing a substantially water-tight connection between said lower edge of said decorative panel and said one edge of said bathing receptacle; said improved structure comprising means defining an elongated beaded portion extending substantially parallel to said one edge of said bathing receptacle and being spaced therefrom; and a exible fitting connected between said lower edge of said decorative panel and said beaded portion of said bathing receptacle; said flexible fitting comprising a pair of substantially parallel side walls having upper and lower portions and a connecting web extending therebetween, said upper side wall portions and said connecting web cooperating to de- 3 fine a generally U-shaped channel therebetween for snugly receiving said lower edge of said decorative panel; and said lower side wall portions having inwardly extending lower edges snugly receiving said beaded portion on said one edge of said bathing receptacle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4 La Barre 52-35 Beck 52-716X Corp 52-35 Benkin 52-312 Posey 52-716X Arnold et al 52-7l6X Meadows 52-7'16X FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner S. D. BURKE III, Assistant Examiner 

